Kimi Raikkonen to retire from Formula One at end of season

Kimi Raikkonen left the sport at the end of 2009 but returned in 2012 with Lotus, with whom he won two races before his second stint at Ferrari from 2014-2018.

Kimi Raikkonen, the Finnish 'Iceman' who won the 2007 Formula One world championship for Ferrari, announced on Wednesday that he would retire at the end of the season after a record run in the sport. The 41-year-old is currently racing for the Swiss-based Alfa Romeo team and his departure opens up a seat, with compatriot Valtteri Bottas strongly tipped to take it if he leaves Mercedes. Raikkonen is the oldest driver on the starting grid and holds the all-time record for most race starts, with 341 so far from 344 grands prix attended. "This is it. This will be my last season in Formula One. This is a decision I did during last winter," Raikkonen said in an Instagram post to his 2.4 million followers. "It was not an easy decision but after this season it is time for new things... Formula One might come to an end for me but there is a lot more in life that I want to experience and enjoy," he added.